The Boman Villa in Helsinki was
Mannerheims rented residence from 1924 till 1951. It had been designed and built by
architect A. Boman, and bought by Karl Fazer, a commercial counsellor, in 1913.

The Parliament planned to buy
Mannerheim a house in honour of his 75th birthday. The Boman Villa seemed the best
alternative, as Mannerheim had already resided in the house for 18 years. The Parliament
donated him the house, but the Fazer family were not willing to sell it. So, Mannerheim
had to live in the house as a tenant until his death. After that the house was changed
into a museum, and became the property of
Mannerheim Foundation in 1957.